Having once broken my glasses by walking into a pillar while reading a text, I was interested to read that a government transport advisor has suggested placing road signs at ground level to guide ‘zombie pedestrians’ who are glued to their phones.  His suggestions include red lights on kerbs to warn people to stop at junctions, and ‘text walking lanes’ … Read More

I recently returned to the village where I lived when I bought my first mobile phone nearly 20 years ago.  A lot has changed in the world of communication since then. My first mobile was a chunky handset with an aerial protruding from the top.  It had a tiny screen, could make and receive calls, and could store of maximum of … Read More

In an iconic scene from the film ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’, travelling companions Neal Page and Del Griffith are attempting to drive from St Louis to Chicago, when Del spins the car and ends up driving the wrong way down the freeway. A couple driving the right way scream across at them, ‘You’re going in the wrong direction.’  Assuming the … Read More

Think of British Motor racing and the names of famous racing drivers quickly come to mind: Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, James Hunt and Lewis Hamilton to name but a few.  Just as iconic are the names of the tracks where they raced for glory: Goodwood, Brands Hatch, Donnington Park, Silverstone and Bexhill-on-Sea.  Yes, you heard it right – … Read More

When my children were younger they would often begin a conversation with the following question, ‘How much do you love me?’  I quickly learned that this enquiry was not a memory test, but rather because they were about to ask me for something and assumed that because I loved them I could not possibly deny them.   My observation over … Read More

It turns out that in the world of emojis there are winners and losers.  Of the nearly 3,000 to choose from, amongst the winners are those that feature hearts or faces, accounting for nine out of ten most regularly used.  Amongst the losers are ‘Input symbol for Latin capital letters’ and ‘Aerial tramway.’   The good news for neglected emojis, … Read More

On 26thJuly 2018 pioneering aviator Mary Ellis passed away at her home on the Isle of Wight at the age of 101.  Speaking on her 100thbirthday she declared that of the many different types of planes she had flown during the Second World War, the Spitfire was her favourite.  She said, ‘I love it, I think it’s a symbol of … Read More

In moments of despair and desperation words of hope can make the difference between life and death.  Recognising this simple truth led teenager Paige Hunter to attach messages of hope to Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland – a place where tragically some of those in the deepest despair end their lives.  Amongst the messages she left were, ‘You are not alone’ … Read More

It’s a curious thing but the most successful music compilation album in the world, now in its 35thyear, took its name from a 1930’s advert for Danish eggs and bacon.  Preparing for its launch in 1983 studio executives were struggling to think of a name when one of them noticed a poster on the wall behind his desk.  A birthday … Read More